An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Special Tactics Airmen train on submarine

  • Published
  • By JO1 (SW) Michael S. Howlett
  • Submarine Group 9 Public Affairs
Aboard USS Alabama --  A U.S. fighter pilot has been shot down. He is injured and behind enemy lines. He has established communications and is evading the enemy. Time is a critical factor. He needs to be rescued, and he needs to be rescued now. 

Submerged off the coast, lies 19,000 tons of stealth in the form of an SSGN class submarine. It’s equipped with storage and operational equipment to support up to 60 special operations forces (SOF). Notice, it reads SOF, not Navy Special Warfare (SEALs). This is a joint platform that caters to all services’ SOF warriors. And if all else fails, it has 156 Tomahawk missiles at its disposal that can be precision guided down Main Street and right into Mr. Bad Guy’s living room. Talk about surround sound. (An SSGN is an SSBN Trident ballistic missile submarine being converted to carry smaller Tomahawk guided missiles) 

A team of operators from an Air Force Special Tactics Squadron (STS) is stationed nearby. They receive word their unique services are needed. Pararescumen are trained emergency medical technician special operators capable of infiltrating any environment or combat zone to rescue personnel. They’ll be joined by their combat controller teammates, certified air traffic controllers who jump in before all other friendly forces to control air power at the objective and fuse command and control and execution for clandestine missions. Together, with their comrades, special operations weathermen, a STS is a unique and versatile team within the joint SOF community 

In this particular mission the STS operators fly out to meet the submarine aboard a Navy search and recovery helicopter. They drop onto the slippery deck by fast-roping down. Then, the Airmen go below with their gear to set up for the rescue mission. 

The submarine dives and moves closer to the shoreline where it surfaces. From there, the STS team pulls all their gear, inflatable zodiac boats, and engines through the one of the sub’s hatches, inflate their zodiacs and zoom in to the shore. The plan calls for recovering the downed pilot, treating his injuries, and speeding back out to sea for a complex rendezvous with the sub. 

It’s scenarios like these that require cooperation between the services. It also requires practice to iron out the wrinkles in the process. That is where the USS Alabama (SSBN 731) stepped up to provide a practice platform for the Air Force’s 22nd and 23rd STSs from McChord AFB, Wash., and Hurlburt Field, Fla., respectively. The Airmen spent Nov. 11-18 aboard the Alabama practicing various scenarios in which their services would be required. Alabama is an Ohio class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine and served as a surrogate for the SSGNs nearing completion in the shipyards. 

The goal of the exercises was to test concepts being worked into the SSGN program, such as the rescue scenario played out.
Another test conducted was the first ever launch and recovery of a UAV from a submarine, according to Lt. Tyler Johnson, attack weapons systems officer at Submarine Squadron 9. Lieutenant Johnson helped coordinate the exercises between the Alabama and Air Force. 

“We had four goals to this exercise,” said Lieutenant Johnson. “The first goal was to further define the tactics, techniques, and procedures for the SSGN program. Second, we wanted to prove and expand on our joint interoperability. We also wanted to provide the Air Force with an opportunity to conduct amphibious training with a unique Naval resource. Also, we wanted to give the crew of Alabama an opportunity to conduct SOF training,” he said. 

Exercises were conducted day and night, offering different environments to challenge the STS operators and the Alabama’s crew. 

“This was a great opportunity for some of our younger troops to train with their joint counterparts and have an impact on the evolving the SSGN program,” said Lt. Col. Mike Sneeder, commander of the 22nd STS. “It was a challenging environment fast-roping onto the slippery decks and learning to maneuver on the submarine.” 

His teams also learned some appreciation for the submariners’ lives aboard the boat. 

“One of the things we had to figure out was how to get our boats, engines, and gear down the hatches and stowed on the submarine with such limited space,” said Colonel Sneeder. 

Colonel Sneeder talked about lessons learned regarding the UAV launch and believes it has a future aboard the SSGN class. 

“The UAV is definitely another SOF asset that can be launched from this platform. We were able to identify some areas of improvement, which was the whole reason we were there, he said. 

His teams also benefited from the opportunity to learn from the submariners. “The more we learn and are exposed too, the more effective we will be in different mission profiles,” he said. 

Alabama’s crew impressed the SOF operators with their professionalism. 

“It takes a very professional and patient crew to work through the kinks in these brand new tactics with us. Because of their outstanding professionalism, we were able to accomplish more than we had originally set up to do,” Colonel Sneeder said. The extra training tested more capabilities, such as recovering inflatable boats on the submarine, and saved money by packing more training into the limited amount of time already allotted. 

The crew of the submarine enjoyed hosting the STS teams and learned from them as well, according to Lt. Donta Tanner, supply officer for the boat. 

“They are very professional and a lot of fun to work with. I’m glad we had the chance to participate in this exercise and train with the Air Force,” he said. 

The exercise served to demonstrate SSGN capabilities and prove the joint capability of the program. As the Navy moves to more littoral operating areas, the ability to operate jointly with the other services will play a more dominant role in the Navy’s future. A future the Air Force looks forward to being a part of, according to Colonel Sneeder. 

“Our mission statement since 9/11 is to support the Global War on Terrorism, and the SSGNs will enable us to train and mix with the other SOF operators to bring air power to the objective from a submarine.”